Richard (Rich) C. Ciceron

University of Rochester, Simon Business School

“I’m a father and first-generation graduate dedicated to creating opportunity for those to come.”

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York

Fun fact about yourself: I enjoy disco roller-skating on weekends with my family!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Stony Brook University, BS in Health Science

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Before enrolling at Simon Business School, I worked at Lifetime Fitness as a personal trainer and fitness sales specialist. I also started my own fitness company, Live Rich Fitness Co., where I worked with corporate professionals to support their health and fitness needs.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? During the summer of 2023, I worked at Mars Petcare, located in Franklin, Tennessee.

Where will you be working after graduation? After graduating from Simon Business School, I will be working at PepsiCo in Purchase, New York.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: While at Simon I have done work with Habitat for Humanity Rochester, served as the vice president of wellness for the Graduate Business Council, and participated in Simon Vision Consulting, where I had the opportunity to offer insights to a Black-owned Rochester business. I also went to South Africa for an immersion and had an incredible experience learning about international business and history.

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of the vice president of wellness role. Health and wellness are my passions. Through this role and through my two years at Simon, I recognize how important the mind, body, and spirit are to me, and I will continue to pursue making changes in the world for my community to be well.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I am most proud of my role as a fitness leader during my time in corporate gyms. In this space I was able to share some of my passions such as fitness, business development, and teaching with the professionals that I led. I was also able to hone my leadership skills, which allowed me to help develop leaders and high performers in the corporate gyms that I worked in.

Why did you choose this business school? In particular, I was instructed by one of my fraternity brothers to invest time researching Consortium schools. He told me to find one that fit the measurement for all my needs at that present time and would provide me with the growth that I wanted in the future. For me, that meant a school that would allow me to be close to my children and my elderly parents, in addition, it would need to be rigorous to the point that would stimulate my growth as a critical thinking professional. I landed on Simon after months of research (in addition to a suggestion of a fraternity brother that attended Simon and was also a Consortium member), after I discovered the school’s analytical nature and dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This turned out to be the formula that appealed to me the most in comparison to the other schools that I was researching and made Simon my top pick.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? I have had a great experience with all my professors thus far, but if I am to pick a favorite, I would say Kate Washington. I have been truly challenged by the both the coursework as well as the social engagement by Prof. Washington after being encouraged to take a deeper look into my entrepreneurship. I have only taken one class with Kate, but I drew inspiration from her passion behind her purpose in business development in the Black community and was further impressed by her track record of business success. The time that I spent with her in South Africa is what impacted me the most. Here, I got to learn more about Kate as a person, beyond her résumé, and share with her my hopes and dreams as a Black entrepreneur—something that I didn’t even realize that I needed as a Consortium graduate student. Kate is absolutely someone I hope to have as a friend and mentor as I move forward in my life after Simon.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favorite course so far at Simon has been Digital Marketing Strategy with Prof. Elena Nescio. In addition to the fact that this is one of the first A’s that I received as a graduate student, I really appreciate the fact that I was able to immediately apply all the information that I learned in the course to my professional experience at Mars for my internship. The conversations that I had during the class and interaction with the coursework have by far been some of the most intriguing because of its practicality and application to my everyday life.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Habitat for Humanity has been my favorite Simon tradition thus far because I have always wanted to contribute to the issue of unhoused families in this country. It means a great deal to me to be able to support those who are in need, especially in communities that are like that of my childhood in Brooklyn. Making a difference in the lives of the temporarily less fortunate is a high priority for me and something I hope to teach my children so that we can positively impact the cycle of suffering in this country.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do anything differently in my experience here at business school, I would make it a point to be more social, and less “head-down” about everything. My first year was hallmarked by the birth of my second daughter, so all I could focus on was being a supportive parent and a present parent— living hundreds of miles away in the first few months of her life. I wish I would have had my family in Rochester, NY, as opposed to Yonkers, NY, so that I could experience this with them, and share with them the many Simon experiences that I know I missed out on.

What is the biggest myth about your school? The biggest myth about my school is that it is “slow” and how it is “not an exciting” place. I learn something new about American & African American history, abolitionism, inclusivity, and flowers every day as a Simon student! That comes from constant interaction with my classmates, faculty, and staff at this institution. These conversations have contributed to my understanding of race relations and political awareness in a way that has inspired me to make a difference in my community and the greater American society.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I am very grateful to have been able to learn all these things, experience the beauty of spring and fall here, and explore the power of small business and enterprises in the Rochester area. I love the inclusive and accepting nature of the people in Rochester. There are seldom times that I feel unwanted by people outside of my community, and I always feel as if there is an opportunity to make a new friend and make a connection—things that are very important to me as I walk in this life.

What surprised you the most about business school? I was most surprised by the dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion that Simon has shown me. There has never been an instance in which I didn’t feel consideration and care as it pertains to my identity as a Black man, nor have I ever felt as if the many other identities that I share space with at Simon are unsupported. Every one of us is made to feel accepted, cared for, and interesting enough to learn more about. That is something that I admire on a personal level and am proud to see it in the school that will soon be my alma mater.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? If I am to choose one peer that I admire most at Simon Business School, it would be Tyler Delgado. In the time that I have known him, I have only experienced him to be a man of high moral standing, work ethic, and camaraderie. As I have undergone changes as a student, parent, and human being just adapting to a new environment, Tyler made it a point to be a friend to me. He ensured that I am doing the things that will help me balance school, family, and wellness so that I can be my best. He does this while managing to accomplish his career goals, leading a healthy lifestyle, all balanced with ideals of humanity that I believe are characteristics of an honorable individual.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? I want to be promoted within the first sixteen months of any position I begin three times in a row—this is goal number two on my list. My number one goal is to achieve the accolade of becoming the president of my business sector within five years of beginning my career at PepsiCo, which I understand to be a major accolade. My goals of promotion and achievement are fueled by my desire to continue setting a high standard for my children to look up to, as well as honoring my family as the first-generation college and business school graduate. I owe my parents and grandparents a great deal for the opportunities that I have been offered, while they are around to experience my achievements.

What made Richard such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Richard (Rich) Ciceron, a remarkable individual and a standout member of our MBA Class of 2024, for the Poets & Quants MBAs To Watch recognition. As a Consortium Fellow, Rich has exemplified exceptional leadership and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, significantly enriching our school’s culture and community. His role as vice president of wellness for our Graduate Business Council has been particularly impactful, demonstrated by his spearheading of the innovative “Week of Wellness” initiative. This program has profoundly enhanced our students’ academic journey and overall success, showcasing Rich’s dedication to fostering a supportive and healthy environment for his peers. As the VP of wellness, Rich has created consistent programming that reinforces the holistic support that students need, focusing not just on academic success but on overall wellness.

Rich’s academic and professional journey is a testament to his ambition, resilience, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Through his internship in corporate strategy at Mars, Inc., and subsequent full-time role in procurement at PepsiCo, he has not only displayed remarkable strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, but also a profound ability to lead with empathy, integrity, and a forward-thinking mindset. His contributions have not only left a lasting impact on our institution, but also promise to propel him to significant achievements in his future endeavors.”

LaTanya Johns, Assistant Dean
Jay S. and Jeanne Benet Career Management Center

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024